evans



H. T. EVANS.

TRACYOR.

APPLICATION FILED MN. 18. I918.

Patented Oct. 14,1919.

TTO v6 R. T EVANS.

YRACTOR APPLHLMION FILED MM. 18. 1912s.

Patoutvd Wt. 14,1919.

UNITED STATES ROBERT r. EVANS, or Henson, 0310,

COMPANY, or HUDSON,

ASSIGNOB 'I'O THE EVANS OHIO, A. CORPORATION 03 OHIO.

muracrmne TRACTOR s ecification of Letters Patent.

resente Oct. 14, i919.

Application flied January 1a. 1310." semi no. slams;

- To all whom it may concern "Be it known that I, Romnrr T. EVANS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Hudson, county of Summit, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and nsefnl Improvement in Tractors, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other invent-ions.

The present improvements, relating, as indicated, to tractors, are more particularly directed to the provision in such a machine of units which may be independently and separately constructed and then conveniently assembled in the complete tractor.

-Other objects of the invention are so to urrange the draw-bar connections as to oppose the torque of the driving connections to the traction wheels reacting on the frame and thereby secure an increased traction effect, and to rovide improved steering mechanism, which is constructed to leave the wheels free to follow the oscillation of the frame without affecting the angularity of the machine. Still other objects of the invention are an improved mdunting and driving means for a. power pulley and an improved construction of driving means for the traction Wheels. To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

e annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical formsin which theprinciple of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings 1 Figure 1 is a. plan view of my improved machine; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a side view of the transmission case with cover removed; Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing the transmission case; Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5, Fig. 2; and Fig. 6 is a section on the line M, Fig. 2.

he constructionof the machine can be readily seen from Figs. 1 and 2. There is a frame consisting of suitable U or I-shaped members 1, which, for the greater part of their length, are disposed parallel and are connected to suitable transverse members 2, these parallel longitudinal frame members being curved inwardly at their forward ends to provide a. support for a "member 4 in which is pivotally mounted,-to swin about a horizontal axis, the front axle front axle 5, which and not a driving axle, is preferably an I- am and is provided o l-either end with spindles u on which aremounted the for The is a load-bearing axle ward whee s 6. It will 'be noted that a rela tively short turning radius is insured by the curving of the frame members inwardly away from the wheels. The spindles 7 are pivotally attached to th cal axes and their pivotal movement is controlled by means of short levers 8 extending rearwardly from the spindles and maintamed in alinement by means of a. transverse bar 9. On this transverse bar 9 is mounted a rack to, which is on d with, a horizontally disposed Ion 'tugnal pinion 41. The in :alinement with the axis about which the front axle 5 is pivoted, so that oscillation of the front axle will not cause any movement of the rack with respect to the pinion except a turni of the former aboutthe latter, whi h wi of course not move the levers 8 nor be the angel rity of the wheel spindles. Tuming of th levers 8-will ward and back movementof the. rack 40, and to revent any possibility of disengagement between the rack and the pinion caused by this longitudinal movement, the pinion is made considerably wider than the axle about verticause a slight for rack, as indicated, so that. there is at all n times complete enga ment between the two. In Fig. 5 there is s own a section throu the rack 40 and pinion 41,41,116 in this section there is shown a supportin roller which is normally in contact wit side of the rack 40,

the lower H to a point slightly forward of the rearaxle,

where they are rigidly connected t9 members 1 constituting in efiect extensions of such first other named members, but lying "20 eral tire res ectiviiYdrivr aged 7 (inter en s.

low the same so as to give a drop ej iieetto the frame at therear. These members 1 form a. support for a casin 18 thatincloses the transmission 21 and di erential 22, such 5 casing, rigidly connecting the members. Casing 181150 forms a support not only for the operatdrs seat 14, but for a controlling dal 16 and operating levers 50 and 58. ounted upbn the side members 1, i. e. the 1b fnfi'ward portion of the general frame, and ks in front of the casing 18, is a motor 30 ,that is ripidly attached to said side mem-- Ebers, as a so to such casing. Ovetlhn 151" award upper portion of the casing 18', or in iic her wo ds i ectlyutc. the rea of these. giii'e,f;' located a fuel 205,;

The ransmission Eis f the 'lusuadselec- 'e and the di smaunmtchmnm' 22 18 assent of familiarfconstruction' in gen: l shafts 23 that are eons withfduch ai sense eirtend ing thriougn thesidies of the ice-sing 1B: be-y yond tipgcdrrespondin "frame-members 1',

and -pmvicledwit pinions 24 .at their F The traction wheels 27, are r- '7 his y mounted on the res ective outer ends '0 t' e rgar augle 2 Whig passes through an supports the casing '18 andltliereby the rear portion ofthe frame, the; sides of the 80 casing being strengthened by, ribs 26since the major portion of the load is sup ort ed, through such casing, uponl 'the traction wheels. On the axle are'lar gears 28 which maybe mounted up ont e hubs of 85 the traction whcels, or may be so ported on ball bearing? on the axle itsel and connected said Wheels by suitable jaw clutches not shown), as will be readily understoo These gears are engaged and 40 driven by the pinions 24, both the gears-and pinions being inclosed in a light casing 29 of suitable shape, the detail construction of which will be ascribed later.

Vertically beneath the axle 25 is a trans 46 verse member 70 attaphed to the rear and lower frame members, which is rovided with an extension 51, to which a rawbar 52 may be connected for pulling plows or other tools. By dropping the rear portion of the frame as previously described, with such rear portion at a lower elevation than the forward section, it is possible to osition' the transverse member for receiving the draw bar a considerable distance beneath 55 the axles, and upon a substantially horizontal plane with the point of attachment of the draw bar to the tools. This insures a straight horizontal pull upon the tools themselves. The attac ment' of the drawbar at this point will of course tend to pull down or impress an additional load upon the front or steering wheels, which is objectionable as tending to cause themachine to nose into the ground, as well as losing 55; that much tractive elfort. This tendency,

it will be observed 20, provided with a fil ngca'p however, I have overcome b the particular disposition of the drivin shafts 213, which ig." 2)lie to the rear and substantially in the same lane as the axle 25 on which the traction w eels 27 are mounted. The shafts 23, with their pinions 24, rotate in a clockwise direction when the tractor is advancing, and so the driving torque of the pinions on the large gears 28 will tend to lift the forward end of the frame and correspondingly decrease the load on the steering wheels. his client may be gaged to approximately counter-balance the opposite tendency of the pull on the draw-bar, as will hemreadily imde sboodan The members if, which constitute the rear portion of? the frame, support an operators pl'atformsfifl by means of spriggs 61, upon wl 'iichf'the operator mayista which he may ascend ta; the-es t it Dls.fa5 posed forwardly of thetjsfi lngrolling; BYQlF-Sww 1-, ecdm sre nn constitutes the fuel supply chamber, and directly beneath this chamber ismo'unt'ed a mufiler 64 for the engine; The eat of the exhaust passing through the mu er is sufficient to raise the tempera ure of the fuel which assists? in startm Y the motor after it has stood in the cold or some time. On the rear side of the tank 20 is provided an instrument board 62, upon which the various indicating instruments which are necessary, such as the oil gage, fuel gage, and the controlling. switches, may be mounted, as in the usual; motor vehicle.

In the manufactu ofthe tractonafter the framememberS H e been assembled, the motor 3t) and the: casingFlB containing the transmission pa d differential are placed thereon. ahd rigidly secured thereto as well as to eaph other. The frame members and such motor and easing thus form a unitary structure of rigid and substantial character, insuring the maintenance of proper alinemcut between the various shafts and gears in said transmission and difl'erential.

The transmission gearing inthe casing 18 includes a longitud'naliy disposed 180k or from r 11 and steering mechanism Shaft 31 from which is driven a second longitudinally disposed shaft 32 that extends from said casing 18 to the forward end of the frame where it is provided with a beveled gear 33 engaging a corresponding beveled gear 34 attached to a transversely disposed shaft 35.

The shaft 32 is driven hyfia gear85 thereon, which is shiftable intofmes'h"with the driving gear 86 on the enginshaft by means a of the yoke 46 on rod 88. This rod in turn has a projecting lug 88 -which may be engaged by a yoke on the lower end of the shifting lever 103 for the transmission gears in the casing 18. These gears and the collar 47 and 48 are operated by rods 93am! 94,

which bear lugs 97 and 98 similar .to the lug 89 on the rod 88. The yoke on the shifting lever must be used to engage any of these gears and hence the power pulley gear- 85 cannot, be used unless the tractor-driving gears are first thrown out of mesh; This prevents accidents and simplifies thecontrol of the machine.

The beveled gears 33 and 34 are incloscd in a suitable oil-tight casing 36, Fig. 1, and the shaft 35 is journaled in the frame memhers 1 and extends beyond the same on the right'hand side, wheres pulley 37 is attached. The shaft 35 is disposed at an exact right angle to the center line of the tractor, and the pulley 37 is therefore parallel with the center line of the entire. machine, which makes it an easy. matter for, the operator to aline' the pulley with the pulley on a machine which is. to be operated therefrom, since it is only necessary for him to line up the tractor as a whole with such driven pulley. -This is a matter of considerable im portance since it is very diflicult with the ordinary tractor to secure an exact alinement between the power pulley, which is ordinarily mounted either transversely of the frame or longitudinally of the frame behind the driver, and-' the pulley on amachinewhich is to be driven. in the mounting of the power ulley at the forwa'rdend of the muchinqw ere it is at a. considerable distance from the rear wheel and is outside of the front wheels, it is essible to use a rilatively large pulley w ich may he run at a relatively slow speed, rather than a small pulley running at a high speed as is usually necessary in tractors owing to the position in which the pulley must be mounted.

In the drawingsl have shown other ele' ments of theconstruction which it is, however, unnecessary to descri'bejn detail since they represent the usual type of-ooaistruction in general use. Adjacent to the operators sent 14 is mounted a steering wheel 15 on a shaft 101i which is connected by means of u umversu joint to a second shaft 102 extendingto and being connected "by means I of a school-l universal o1nt to the pinion 41.. Also the transmission gears si'e controlled by sliding them on the jackshaft 31 by: means of a pivoted lever 103 operatili shifting collars 46, 47 and 48 on the she ts of said transmission. The gears on said shafts for driving the propeller shaft 107 and the pulley driving shaft 32 are so disposed that they may be thrown into the desired engagement by the movement of this shifting lever.

The features-0f particular importance in my tractor are the construction and disposition of the motor and casing for the gearing in connection with the frame and rear axle, since they makeit possible to manufac ore the nuichine in separate and independ- Furthermore,

cnt units which may then be conveniently and securely assembled into an extremely compact and rigid tractor. Additional fen.- tures are the inclosure 29 for the final drive for the tractor wheels and the mounting and drive for the power ulley. In Fig. 6 there is shown a section t rough such casing inclosing the driving gears for the traction wheels, showing that this casing consists of two semi-circular members fitting together along u horizontal line for the greater portion of. their engagement, but curving around at the center where the driving shaft fits into the casing. The upper and lower sections 81 and S2 of this casing engage each other by means of a U-shnpcd recess 83, owned in the upper of the two sections and engaging over the edge of the lower section. 'lhc cngagcmcut between those upper and lower se tions is u snug one so that oil placed in the casing will not work its way out at this point. In this way adcquulc lubrication for the driving gcnr and the drin-u gear on the wheel may be hull, while both those gears are securely protected from tho mud and dirt, which would otherwise utl'cct their operation and their life.

It will be noted that the casing 18 carries both the transmission gears and differential driving mechanism. These two mechanisms are very compactly arranged in this casing, the transmission gears even overlapping the differential longitudinally of if-llo machine. The Weight of this casing and contained mechanism is considerable. and. in fact, is us much or more than the weight of the motor, so that by disposing said casing mainly b hind the rear axle, as shown, the weight of the engine is balanced on such axle to a greater degree than ordimirily. thereby corrcspondingly relieving thev load on the steering wheels. In other words. owing to such disposition of parts, and the (lJll'll'NlL'lllPSS and short length .of the diflcrcutiul and transmission mechanism in casing 18. I have been able to secure a weight distribution of about five-sixths on the rear wheels and one sixth on the front wheels.

On eaclrof the rear wheels are mounted two steel hands 100 which are shrunk lightly into place along the outer and inner edges and allow thcmuchinn to be run on hard pavements without. the severe jarring that is found if broad flat tires are used, as these bonds raise the wheel surface proper above small obstructions. (ln soft surfaces these bands increase the grip and prevent side slip.

At the rear of the frame is a transverse bar 111 provided with a series of holes 112 therein. In ciisc it is desired to pull from one corner or side of the tractor. the draw her run he moved into the desired position and a bolt dropped into the neurest hole to hold the draw bar in the desired position.

It will be seen from Fig. 5 that the supporting roller for maintaining the rack in mesh with the teeth of the steering pinion is mounted in a bracket 120, which is pivotally supported and his its upper end disposed between two coil s )rings 121. By this mounting of the bi'acliet, the roller is allowed to swing slightly to one sideor the other in agreement with the tilting of the front axle and of the rack attached to the wheels.

The location of the gears for driving the gears attached to the wheels is of importance in connection with the distribution of weight in the tractor, since there is a tendency, of course, for the small driving gears -to ride down behind the large driven gears and to thus tilt. up the forward end of the tract/or. This tendency is, of course, as

sisted by the large amount of weight on the rear axle and the very small amount of weight on the front axle. Since the point of application of the resistance of any tools which are being pulled is below the rear axle. this resistance tends to oilsct the tendency of the front end of the tractor to be raised, and, hence, this location of the draw bar is .of considerable importance in connection with the construction of the driving means in my device. I

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims. or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and dis tinctly claim as my invention 1. In a tractor, the combination with a main frame comprising suitably connected side members, the forward ends of said members being bent inwardly toward each other and the rear portions thereof being dropped below the front portions, of an engine rigidly mounted on such front frame portion, and a casing similarly rigidly mounted on such dropped rear portion and containing the transmission and di fi'erential, said engine and casing being rigidly connected togetlnr. I

2. In a tractor, tzhe coiiihination with a main fiume comprising suitably connected side members, the rear portions of said intimbers being dropped below the front portions, of an engine rigidly attached to such front frame portions, a casing similarly rigidly mountedon such dropped rear portion and containing the transmission and differential, said engine and casing being rigidly connected together, tract-ion wheels, and an axle for the latter passing through and supporting said casing and thereby the rear portion of said frame.

3. In a tractor, the combination with a main frame comprising suitably connected side members, the rear portions of said mcmbeis being dropped below the front ortions, of an engine rigidly mounted on tie front frame portion, a casing similarly rigidly irmuntedo'n such dropped rear portion and containing the transmission and differential, said engine and casing being rigidly con nected together, traction wheels, an axle for the latter passi'ltg through and supporting said casing and thereby the rear portion of said frame, a draw-bar attached to said frame substantiallv directly beneath said axle, gears attached to said wheels, and driving pinions for said gears connected with said differential and located to the rear of said axle.

5. In a tractor, the combination of a suitable frame, traction wheels supporting said frame, an engine mounted on said frame, a change speed gearing and differential for connecting said engineand wheels, a iower pulle and means forming part 0 said change speed gearing adapted alternatively to connect said engine with said power pulley or heels.

6. In a tractor, the combination of a suitable framc. traction wheels snpportin said frame, an engine mounted on said rame with its shaft extending longitudinally of; an id framc. a change speed gearing and differential for connecting said engine and wheels, a transversely disposed power shaft and a pulley mounted thereon, and means forming part of said change speed gearing adapted alternatively to connect said en-' gine with said transversely disposed shaft or wheels.

7. In a tractor, the combination of a, suitable frame, traction wheels supporting said frame, an engi mounted on said frame, a transmission ant difi'erentlal for connecting said engine and wheels, a transversely dis-" posed s aft and power pulley by, another shaft parallel with flihggngflne shaft connected at its oneeud'to drive said power-pulley shaft, and means adapted'alternatively. to co)ieet said engine with the other 'end of saic parallel sha ft; or, with said transmissio E y 8. In a a iuctor the combination with a main framinft .fliitr sort-ions of said side members being roppec below the front portions, of traction Wheels supporting said powerimllev carried thereby another shafl frame, an engine rigidly monnterlon the ml'aile with the engine sha t'connected at 10 front-frame portion with its siimft extending i s fi'O t end i drive i p -pulley longitudinally of the frame-,1! casing rigidly shaft, and means adapted alternatively to 5 mounted on such dropped rear portion and connect said engine with the rear end of said containing the transmissionand diflerential, parallel shaft or with said transmission. a transveuwIy disposed shaft join-lulled in Signed by me, this 14th day of J an. 1918. 15 said frame forwardly of said engine, :1 ROBERT T. EVANS. 

